After being asked by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to explain road works delay last week, the secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Rogelio Singson steps up to the plate with an explanation.

As reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sec. Singson sent a text message indicating that “the presence of utilities, right-of-way problems and limited work areas to minimize the use of roadways” as the major obstacles encountered by the agency during the process of road repairs.

The director of the DPWH-National Capital Region Reynaldo Tagudando also added other factors like road obstructions and weather conditions as reasons causing the delay.

While these may point the finger at a variety of sources a DPWH official who wished to remain anonymous laid the blame on private contractors hired by the DPWH claiming that they were “slow and poor-performing” and the MMDA slow process of issuing permits to road projects.

The DPWH is currently in the process of finishing 7 of the more than 100 pending road repairs. By December 15 the northbound and southbound lanes of Taft Avenue from P. Ocampo Street to the Pasay City boundary; Muelle de Magallanes in Manila’s fifth district; President Quirino Avenue in Paco, Manila; Tandang Sora Avenue from Quirino Highway to Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City; Hemady Street, N. Domingo Street, Salgado Street, and Kamias Street, also in Quezon City, and Pioneer Street from Buayang Bato Creek to William Street in Mandaluyong City will be completed.

Work being done along Roxas Boulevard from P. Burgos Street to Teodoro M. Kalaw Street should be done by December 31 and ready for the Papal visit early next year.

Earlier the MMDA announced that all road repairs would be suspended starting December 15 until January 5 2015.